| Solar Riser | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Electric aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Ultralight Flying Machines (UFM) |
| Designer | |
| Status | Sole example in theEAA AirVenture Museum |
| Primary user | Larry Mauro |
| Number built | One |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1979 |
| Introduction date | 1979 |
| First flight | 29 April 1979 |
| Retired | 1979 |
TheMauro Solar Riser is an Americanbiplaneultralightelectric aircraft that was the first crewed aircraft to fly onsolar power. It was also only the second solar-powered aircraft to fly, after the uncrewedAstroFlight Sunrise, which had first flown4+1⁄2 years earlier.[1][2]
The president ofUltralight Flying Machines, Larry Mauro, created the Solar Riser by converting a stockUFM Easy Riser hang glider to solar power. Normally foot-launched, the Solar Riser had wheeled landing gear added. Power is supplied by aBosch electric starter motor of 3.5 hp (2.6 kW) connected to a 30-volt DCNickel-cadmium battery pack taken from aHughes 500 helicopter, powering a 41 in (104.1 cm) propeller through a reduction drive made from atiming belt and two pulleys. The battery was charged by a series ofphotovoltaic solar panels mounted in the top wing that provided 350 watts of power. The solar cells were not sufficient to provide all power in flight, so all flights were made by recharging the battery on the ground from the solar cells and then flying using energy stored in the battery. A charge in bright sunshine for an hour and a half yielded a flight of 3–5 minutes.[1][2]
Because the battery power was enough to launch the aircraft for a soaring flight it was theoretically possible to launch on battery power, soar while the batteries are being charged by sunlight and then continue powered flight. The Solar Riser did not employ the most efficient cells available at the time, and the upper wing had room for twice the number of cells to be installed. Early plans called for upgrading and increasing the number of cells so that sustained electric flight could be made using only solar energy and not battery power, but these plans were never completed.[1][2]
With Larry Mauro as the pilot, the Solar Riser made the first man-carrying flight on solar power at noon on 29 April 1979 atFlabob Airport atRubidoux, California, nearRiverside. The aircraft reached a maximum height of about 40 ft (12 m) and flew 0.5 mi (0.8 km).[3] A number of other flights of similar height and duration were flown, including demonstration flights atEAA AirVenture Oshkosh before the aircraft was retired to a museum.[1][2][4]
Data from EAA Museum[5] and AstroFlight[2]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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